As promised yesterday; in anticipation of the forthcoming Autumn Steam Spectacular we have a brief look at last year’s event.  My wife and I visited on the final day (the 30th October) of the three day event when the weather was terrible.  I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the reason why it is being held earlier in the year this time!  The line boasted an incredible nine locomotives in steam with the home fleet bolstered by visiting BR standard 7MT 70000 Britannia (above and below), new-build A1 class 60163 Tornado, 4492 Dominion of New Zealand (aka 4464 Bittern) and Gresley N2 0-6-2T 1744.

Overall the event was a success, although we were disappointed to be left stranded in the wet and cold at Alton for one and a half hours when 850 Lord Nelson broke down!  Instead of replacing the train they shunted some wagons about with two locomotives.  Eventually we were rescued by dependable black 5 45379.  This meant that the sight’s of the A1 and A4 were fleeting at best, but the pictures  I did take were reasonable, so all was not lost!  I often find that terrible weather can make for fantastic photographs, the picture below being my example!

Tomorrow we shall look at pictures of the home fleet, but on todays post all pictures taken are of the visitors to the 2011 Autumn Steam Spectacular, I hope you like them!